1 



-one above the other and at a convenient distance, namely, one yard, so that tho tips of the leaves o 

 the upper poles do not touch the butt ends of the lower. The space above the tie-beum is divided in 

 the same manner as was done below it. To be able to do the division above as below, it is necessary ti> 

 put two t tk'-hemif and two cross bsa-ns or cross pieces to form each space, and by these the spaces 

 separating each apartment bebw will be continued above. We would adviso the beginner to see a house 

 built by an Expert as the bast means of becoming acquainted with its construotiDn. 



When the house is shingled or thatchel, a kind of win low or ventilator should be left at the top of 

 each gable s> that the air may refresh the Tobacco which is at the upper part of the house. In a foggy 

 locality the sides o f the house should also be covered with thatch. Several doors should be ma le so that 

 after the f >g has disappeared they may be opened and air allowed to circulate freely through the house. 

 The sides of the house should be wattled. 



Tub Press or «' Pilon." 



The Press is made in one of the sections of the Tob icco house, and of the required size. The section 

 in which the Press is constructed must be well closed to exclude the ouier air. Long logs are placed 

 parallel to, a little apart from, each other, and on these a kind of fl >or is made of either boards or wattle*, 

 at a height of about one foot. The floor so formed is covered with thatch or dry pluutuiu leaves, and 

 the Tobacco can now be placed in it. | 



Conditioning or Fermentation. 



1. Mancuernas, or pairs of leaves. 



As soon as the poles are carried to the House filled with the Tobacco, cut and arranged as before 

 describe 1, they are placed on the horizontal rails or *' Barrederas" closely packed together. They are 

 left in this state for three days, if it be in the months of Oetober, November or December, but in any 

 of the following months they must be kept so packed for not more than one or two days. 



When tho leaves become yellow they are said to be ripe and then the poles must be separated a foot 

 from each other. 



There are two methods of treating the Tobacco when in this condition : — 



Method A. — Allow the poles to remain the foot apart till the stalks and the midribs or middle vein 

 of the leaves get dry, then carry up the poles to the upper " barrederas" and again pack closely, if there 

 be want of room, but if room be not needed, then they may be put a foot apart. 



jjiithod B. — Separate the leaves which may be sticking together and place the poles filled with tho 

 Tobacco out in the sun for three diys, being very careful not I o allow rain to wet the Tobjcco, and replace 

 them in the house every day at about 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon to avoid the dew. Horizontal bars 

 of a kind similar to those used in a gymnasium are m ide on which to place the pole3 fi led with the 

 Tobacco. At tho end of three days the poles are placed on the upper '• barrederas," and there allowed 

 to dry propel l^. The poles may be closely packed if room be needed, but this should never be done unlets 

 the middle vein" or midrib be thoroughly dry. 



I prefer this method to the former, because there is no fear of " Sxhorno" (putrid fermentation), 

 and the Tobacco acquires a better colour. 



Considering the advantages of this method, it is almost superfluous to advise the adoption of it ill 

 preference to the former. 



2. When the method is adopted of cutting the whole Plant. — The bundles or " matules," when brought 

 in from the field, an; unloaded at the House, and should be opened out at once and the Tobacco scattered 

 about as widely as possible to allow it to cool to prevent its sweating, When cojI and there is no risk 

 of sweating, the st dies of two plants are tied together at the root end with any kind of string, fastening 

 four stems to one string, which should be just long enough to allow the Tobacco to be hung up on the 

 pole, like the "mancuernas." In case the Tobacco plants be rather large, instead of two, only one 

 should be tied at eich end. The string should be tied bdow the upper leaf, on the butt of the stalk", 

 so as to t revent their falling down. One must be very careful to see that the labourers tying do not put 

 more than four small plants or two large ones in each string. 



After being placed on the poles the Tobacco cut in this manner is treated just the same as that cut 

 in pairs of lcives, or " mancuernas." Although we have attempted here to describe one of the most im- 

 portant operations, yet it, is a fact that scarcely any one can become efficient in the practical part unless 

 he assists in carrying out the work for seme time under the instruction of an Expert. 



Method of Bulking in Press. 



(Empilonar.) 



Method 1. — A.t the beginning of Spring, when the Tobacco becomes soft and pliant on a:count of 

 the humidity of the weather, the poles are taken down - the time for which must also be regulated by 

 the condition of tho loaf — the leaves are stripped off, or removed from the stalks and madj into bun- 

 dles or 11 m itulns," 18 inches in length by 18 inches in depth, the brealth being the length of the 

 leaves. The leaves are placed with all their butt ends together and properly tied to f >ruVjthe *•' matu 1 ." 

 The 'mntules" are more easily formol by means of two pairs of short stakes driven in the ground in 

 the House, at tho proper distance, viz., 18 inches, strings to be used for tying up the bundles are 

 passed between each pair of stales. The stakes in each pair being driven apart at a distance according 

 to the length of the leaves. After the bundles are made they are put in the pilon or press tightly packed 

 together, covering them up with thatch or dried plantain leaves, putting on top of all a few blocks of 

 wood, or any other weight, to press the Tobacco slightly. It should now be allowed to remain in the 

 press for at lead eight days before commencing the sorting of the leaves, but it is preferablo>to allow the 

 Tobacco to remain in the press for about thirty days or more, as the Tobacco is benefited by the prea*, 

 -and there is no risk in its remaining here for any length of time, provided the leaves as well «s tktir 

 mid ribs be thoroughly dry when put iuto the press. The weights should be removed after thirty daya. 



.'mali e<: von* 



